Sports Update » TicketCity Bowlhttp://blog.chron.com/sportsupdate
Blogging special sports events and storiesWed, 04 Mar 2015 00:30:33 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.8.3TicketCity Bowl game day: UH looking for fitting ending for special senior classhttp://blog.chron.com/sportsupdate/2012/01/ticketcity-bowl-game-day-uh-looking-for-fitting-ending-for-special-senior-class/
http://blog.chron.com/sportsupdate/2012/01/ticketcity-bowl-game-day-uh-looking-for-fitting-ending-for-special-senior-class/#commentsMon, 02 Jan 2012 07:48:56 +0000http://blog.chron.com/cougars/?p=5298Today will mark the final game for 17 Houston Cougars seniors, a class that has seen and done a lot in its time on Cullen Boulevard.]]>

The road ends here for 17 UH seniors today. (Sam Khan/Chronicle)

DALLAS — Tyron Carrier has heard the questions quite a bit in the last week. No doubt that virtually all of the 17 seniors on the Houston Cougars roster have also fielded the same questions in the last week regarding today being their final game in a UH uniform. Carrier has tried not to focus on it, saying it hasn’t quite hit him, but acknowledged that he’s given it some thought.

“It hasn’t hit me yet,” Carrier said. “I’ve been hearing it a lot though. It is my last game. I’m just trying to make it the best last game ever.”

Senior quarterback Case Keenum said last week that he was in denial about it. Carrier concurred with that assessment.

“Yes (I’m in denial),” the senior receiver and kickoff return dynamo said. “Just the other day I was talking to (senior receiver) Justin Johnson and I was like ‘Man, what are we going to do after this? We don’t have spring ball. We just have to train for the next level.’ You don’t know what’s at stake. We graduated. It’s just iffy. It’s crazy that you really don’t know what your future holds after graduation. We’re just going to ride this ride until the wheels fall off.”

The ride comes to an end today as No. 20 UH faces No. 24 Penn State in the TicketCity Bowl at 11 a.m. at the Cotton Bowl.

Those seniors were among the ones head coach Tony Levine was thinking of the moment he broke down into tears the day former head coach Kevin Sumlin left to take the Texas A&M job and Levine was subsequently named interim head coach. In a way, he too has been in denial about the end of a career for guys like Keenum, Carrier, Johnson, linebacker Marcus McGraw, center Chris Thompson, receiver Patrick Edwards and many more.

“It was a whirlwind Saturday afternoon and I was sitting by myself at a table with cameras in my face and being asked…about what emotions were going through my head and I was thinking about Case Keenum, Justin Johnson, Chris Thompson, Marcus McGraw, I was thinking about these seniors,” Levine said. “When you say (that today), Case Keenum, Justin Johnson, Chris Thompson, Marcus McGraw, they’re done playing at the University of Houston, that brings a whole different dimension and meaning to this week….But to say it’s in the back of their minds, I think it’ll be closer to the front of their minds.”

In the last four seasons, the Cougars have won 35 games and gone 35-17 (.673 winning percentage). In the years that span the playing career of Keenum, who first hit the field in 2007, the Cougars are 43-22 (.661). This will be their third bowl game in the last four years. A lot has taken place in that time. Among the accomplishments:

The Cougars ended a bowl drought in 2008, winning their first bowl game since 1980 by beating Air Force in the 2008 Armed Forces Bowl.

They set a school record for wins this season with 12 and reached the top 10 in the national rankings for the first time since 1991.

They have played in front of record crowds at Robertson Stadium, perhaps the most memorable coming on Sept. 26, 2009 in a 29-28 win over Texas Tech, which came a week after a road win over then-No. 5 Oklahoma State.

ESPN College GameDay visited the campus when the Cougars were 10-0 and hosting SMU.

They ranked No. 1 in total offense in the country two of the last three years and in the top two nationally three of the last four.

Individually, the stories are endless. Keenum has set numerous NCAA career records upon recovering from a torn ACL suffered in 2010. His comeback has been one of the bright stories of the 2011 college football season. Edwards endured a horrific leg injury against Marshall in 2008, one that made several question whether he’d play football again. Not only did he play again, but he returned in time for the 2009 season opener and has since become UH’s and Conference USA’s all-time leader in receiving yards and appears to be a safe bet to be an NFL draft pick this spring. Carrier, who has been overlooked because of his size, overcame a broken ankle his senior year at Worthing High School and has overcome asthma throughout his career to become a go-to guy and tie the NCAA career record for kickoff returns for touchdowns (seven). McGraw found a way to regroup and play a game in his freshman season just hours after discovering that his mother had died. Johnson has gone from a four-phase special teams dynamo to a go-to guy for Keenum this year. Linebacker Sammy Brown, a junior-college transfer, has become one of the best playmakers in the nation, leading the country in tackles for loss. Running back Michael Hayes went from being without a home after South Florida informed him they had no room for him to becoming a big-time playmaker for the Cougars. And several more seniors have been significant contributors, including running back Bryce Beall, defensive end David Hunter, safety Nick Saenz, backup quarterback Cotton Turner, kickoff specialist Jordan Mannisto (who also was a relief pitcher for the baseball team last season) and special teams ace John McIntyre.

There’s one thing this class hasn’t done — win a Conference USA championship — that has been and will undoubtedly be a little hard to swallow. But considering where the Cougars’ program is headed, it appears this group did plenty to influence the upward direction.

“This is a tough team in my eyes,” Carrier said. “You have guys who probably would question if they’d ever play the game again…We’ve been through a lot of ups and downs….I’m going to love this team and I’m pretty sure it’s like how I feel, everyone’s ready to go out there and put everything on the line for one another.”

•••

Some things to keep an eye on for both teams today:

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH: HOUSTON

STOP THE RUN: It has been UH’s defensive mantra all season. Sometimes the Cougars have been successful, sometimes they haven’t, ranking 78th nationally in rush defense (171.7 yards per game). It’s better than they were a year ago (114th, 208.7) and you can bet that Penn State intends to feed Silas Redd and chew up clock.

PROTECT, PROTECT, PROTECT: In the Cougars’ only loss, Southern Mississippi got after quarterback Case Keenum, sacking him twice and hurrying him seven times. The UH offensive line has done a solid job of keeping Keenum clean this year and must return to that form if the Cougars’ offense is to hit on all cylinders.

RECORD TIME? Senior receiver and kick return specialist Tyron Carrier has one final chance to break the NCAA record for kickoff returns for touchdowns. He is tied with former Clemson star C.J. Spiller with seven in his career. Carrier’s last scoring return came Oct. 27 against Rice.

CHUCK ‘N MIKE: The Cougars offense is at its best when the running game is effective and that means the Cougars have to find a way to get sophomore Charles Sims and senior Michael Hayes going. Both have been effective throughout the season but the Cougars rushed for a season-low 55 yards in their lone loss.

EMOTIONAL HIGH: UH feels disrespected nationally after dropping far in the rankings upon their loss to Southern Mississippi. Expect the Cougars to try to ride that emotion to a fast start against Penn State, another nationally-ranked team. And it’ll be the first game for new head coach Tony Levine, whom the players love.

-SAM KHAN JR.

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH: PENN STATE

BOLDEN GETS THE NOD: Starting quarterback Matt McGloin, who has played reasonably well when not challenged by elite secondaries such as Alabama’s, can’t go because of concussion-like symptoms from a locker-room scuffle. The junior will be replaced by sophomore backup Rob Bolden, who is a steep drop-off. He has shown zero confidence in bit-part time.

PENN STATE’S RUNNING GAME?: If the Cougars can load up the box and prevent 10-play, smashmouth drives, PSU is in big trouble. Nits don’t want to get in a back-and-forth shootout with these guys.

FORGET STILL; WATCH HILL: Though massive All-America DT Devon Still (No. 71) gets the national pub and certainly has had his moments — like driving Trent Richardson straight back three yards on one play — his DT partner Jordan Hill (No. 47) actually had the better season. Hill plays disciplined football and his motor doesn’t wind down late like Still’s.

HOW DOES FERA FARE?: Penn State PK/P Anthony Fera can be erratic. But he has the leg to boom KOs deep into the end zone and launch punts over returners’ heads. which would be advisable with home-run hitter Tyron Carrier lurking.

DO NITS COME TO PLAY?: Bowls like this one are all about who wants to be there. A lot of complaining and whining greeted slotting of PSU in Big Ten’s No. 8 bowl. Players say they’ve shaken off the initial feeling of disrespect. They’d better have or the motivated Coogs could house them good.

– David Jones, Harrisburg Patriot-News

]]>http://blog.chron.com/sportsupdate/2012/01/ticketcity-bowl-game-day-uh-looking-for-fitting-ending-for-special-senior-class/feed/9McGloin out; Bradley can’t find Keenum…notes and quotes from the TicketCity Bowlhttp://blog.chron.com/sportsupdate/2012/01/mcgloin-out-bradley-cant-find-keenum-notes-and-quotes-from-the-ticketcity-bowl/
http://blog.chron.com/sportsupdate/2012/01/mcgloin-out-bradley-cant-find-keenum-notes-and-quotes-from-the-ticketcity-bowl/#commentsSun, 01 Jan 2012 22:29:28 +0000http://blog.chron.com/cougars/?p=5288In less than 24 hours, No. 20 Houston (12-1) and No. 24 Penn State (9-3) will meet in the second TicketCity Bowl. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. on Monday at the Cotton Bowl. Both teams' coaches spoke to the media on Sunday afternoon.]]>

A glance at the trophy the teams are playing for (Sam Khan/Chronicle)

DALLAS — In less than 24 hours, No. 20 Houston (12-1) and No. 24 Penn State (9-3) will meet in the second TicketCity Bowl. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. on Monday at the Cotton Bowl. Both teams’ coaches spoke to the media on Sunday afternoon.

Bolden to start for Penn State
Penn State interim coach Tom Bradley indicated that starting quarterback Matt McGloin will not play at all on Monday. Earlier in the week, Bradley indicated that backup Rob Bolden would start but hadn’t given a clear word on whether McGloin — who is recovering from the effects of a post-practice fight with teammate Curtis Drake on Dec. 17 that sent McGloin to the hospital — would see some action. On Sunday, Bradley ruled him out.

“Matt McGloin will not play tomorrow,” Bradley said. “Robert has a different style than Matt and we’ve adjusted accordingly.”

The Nittany Lions played both quarterbacks earlier this season but McGloin eventually took the job for good when Penn State defeated Northwestern 34-24 on Oct. 22. McGloin has thrown for a team-high 1,571 yards and eight touchdowns with five interceptions while completing 54.1 percent of his passes. Bolden is 46-of-109 passing (42.2 percent) for 548 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions in nine games this season.

Bolden started the first seven games of the season. McGloin has started the last five.

“One of the things he has been a starter, he has started games,” Bradley said. “It’s not an awkward situation for him. Now he knows he’s going to go the whole way if he can. I think he’s done very well. He’s done a great job with command of the huddle, getting prepared for this game.

Searching for Keenum, no luck
At the start of Sunday’s press conference, Penn State interim coach Tom Bradley joked with UH coach Tony Levine about how trying to get Case Keenum out of the game this week.

“One of the things I tried to find Case Keenum all week, looked all over for him so I could do something to him so we could get him out of the game,” Bradley said. “Don’t know where you had him hid out, Tony. He was hiding somewhere.”

Certainly the Penn State defensive front, led by Devon Still, Jordan Hill and Jack Crawford, will be on the hunt for Keenum come Monday. If they have success at getting to him, it could make for a long day for UH.

Bradley was complimentary of Keenum.

“I think the most impressive thing, anybody that can throw 45 touchdown passes, only five interceptions, that’s pretty darn good,” Bradley said. “Watching stats roll across the TV last night from other quarterbacks, they’re not even in the same league as him. That’s the one thing that is going to be a big challenge for us.”

Styles make fights
There’s no doubt that Monday’s game will be a contrast of styles. Penn State’s primary offensive attack is a retro, smashmouth power running game while Houston operates at a high-tempo, no huddle, spreading out defenses with four and sometimes five wide receivers. Both coaches acknowledged that it has been virtually impossible to simulate the other team’s offensive style in practices leading up to the bowl game.

“We can’t duplicate what they do,” Bradley said. “It’s impossible. We are not used to doing that. Don’t have that many wideouts to do all that. Anytime you play a bowl game, you have to be able to survive the first quarter to get caught up to speed. We haven’t played now in five, six weeks. That’s one thing you worry about, getting lulled into sleep going against your scout team. You really tend not to get as good a look as you’re going to need to get because we can’t duplicate that kind of speed.”

Levine said Penn State was unlike any team the Cougars have played this season or the four years he has been on the coaching staff.

“In the same way Coach Bradley said they can’t simulate what we do, we can’t simulate what they do either,” Levine said. “So it’s a challenge for us. I guess the nice thing is obviously in bowl season you have more time to prepare. But, again, for what they do and how tremendously well they do it, it should be a big challenge for us across the board.”

Historic venue
There’s a lot of college football history that has taken place in the Cotton Bowl stadium, from previous Cotton Bowl games, to the Red River Rivalry between Texas and Oklahoma and even some Houston Cougars appearances, including four Cotton Bowl game appearances for UH.

Levine called it “an honor” for UH to get a chance to play in the Cotton Bowl. Senior receiver Justin Johnson, a product of Richardson Berkner High School which is in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, said he’s excited to play in the facility as well.

“This venue is amazing,” Johnson said. “I’ve always wanted to play here since I grew up in Dallas. We, – myself and the other seniors, definitely want to go out on high note. Not a lot of people get a chance to have their last game in a place like this and make it count.”

]]>http://blog.chron.com/sportsupdate/2012/01/mcgloin-out-bradley-cant-find-keenum-notes-and-quotes-from-the-ticketcity-bowl/feed/7Looking ahead to the TicketCity Bowl: UH vs. Penn Statehttp://blog.chron.com/sportsupdate/2011/12/looking-ahead-to-the-ticketcity-bowl-uh-vs-penn-state/
http://blog.chron.com/sportsupdate/2011/12/looking-ahead-to-the-ticketcity-bowl-uh-vs-penn-state/#commentsWed, 28 Dec 2011 16:37:52 +0000http://blog.chron.com/cougars/?p=5246A closer look at Penn State, the Houston Cougars' opponent in the TicketCity Bowl, which is slated for 11 a.m. on Monday at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.]]>The Houston Cougars returned to practice on Tuesday for the first time since taking a brief break for Christmas late last week and they are inching closer to their bowl game, a Jan. 2 date with Penn State in the TicketCity Bowl at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.

UH (12-1), which is ranked No. 20 in the AP poll and 17th in the USA Today/Coaches Poll, is coming off its only loss of the season, a 49-28 defeat at the hands of Southern Mississippi in the Conference USA Championship Game. Penn State is also ranked in the top 25 (the Nittany Lions are No. 24 in the AP poll).

Here’s a closer glance at the Nittany Lions:

Record: 9-3 (6-2 Big Ten).

Coach: Tom Bradley (1-2 this year as interim coach)

Last game: Lost to Wisconsin 45-7 on Nov. 26.

Series history: Penn State leads 2-0

Last meeting with UH: Penn State was victorious 31-14 on Sept. 17, 1977 at Penn State.

This will be the first bowl of the year 2012, kicking off earlier than any other Jan. 2 game (there are no bowl games on New Year’s Day)

The game is one of just four non-BCS bowls that features two top 25 teams.

Penn State was the co-champion of the Big Ten ‘Leaders Division’ with Wisconsin. The Badgers got the Big Ten title game berth ahead of Penn State by virtue of their win on Nov. 26.

The Nittany Lions feature a first-team All-American on defense, defensive tackle Devon Still. Still earned a spot on 10 All-America teams, including the Associated Press, the Walter Camp Football Foundation and the Football Writers Association of America. He has 55 tackles this season, 17 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and pass breakup. He has helped anchor a defense that is fifth in the country in scoring (15.7 points per game allowed) and is in the top 10 in total defense, pass defense and pass efficiency defense.

Penn State’s schedule is ranked the eighth toughest in the nation, tied with Alabama for schedule strength. The Nittany Lions’ opponents were 74-49 (.602 winning percentage).

Penn State is 14-0-1 all-time against Conference USA schools, but this will be the first time they’ve played a school in the league since 2004 when they beat Central Florida. The Nittany Lions are 14-3-1 against teams from Texas, the most recent game being a 2007 Alamo Bowl win over Texas A&M.

Sophomore running back Silas Redd ranks 27th in the country in rushing yards this season with 1,188. He has seven touchdowns and his 99 yards per game average is 26th nationally.

Penn State is 7-1 in games decided by 10 points or fewer this year.

The Nittany Lions have allowed just 12 sacks this season, fewest in the Big Ten.

This is undoubtedly the best defense the Cougars will have faced this season, so it will be an interesting test to say the least.

Of course, the Nittany Lions have had to endure more than their fair share of adversity this season, from the aftermath of the Jerry Sandusky scandal and the ouster of their long-time head coach, Joe Paterno, to most recently, a fight between quarterback Matt McGloin and receiver Curtis Drake that sent McGloin to the hospital.

Interim coach Tom Bradley, who took the reigns after Paterno’s firing, said on Tuesday that McGloin’s status for Monday’s game is day-to-day. Rob Bolden is currently the Nittany Lions’ backup, though he was the starter earlier in the season before McGloin took the starting reins on Oct. 22 vs. Northwestern. Drake did not make the trip with the team to the bowl game and will not play.

]]>http://blog.chron.com/sportsupdate/2011/12/looking-ahead-to-the-ticketcity-bowl-uh-vs-penn-state/feed/46A closer look at Levinehttp://blog.chron.com/sportsupdate/2011/12/a-closer-look-at-levine/
http://blog.chron.com/sportsupdate/2011/12/a-closer-look-at-levine/#commentsTue, 13 Dec 2011 07:30:11 +0000http://blog.chron.com/cougars/?p=5092A closer look at Tony Levine, the University of Houston's special teams coordinator and now interim head coach as UH prepares for its bowl game on Jan. 2 vs. Penn State.]]>

Tony Levine has several things on his to-do list as interim head coach. (Melissa Phillip/Chronicle)

Every Sunday for the last four years, Tony Levine has had a weekly goal.

After his time breaking down film of an upcoming opponent, charting tendencies and identifying strengths and weaknesses, Levine, who has served as Houston’s special teams coordinator, doesn’t step foot out of his office until he’s got a plan for six points from his return team.

“I tell Tyron (Carrier) this all the time: ‘I’m not leaving the office to go home on Sunday night until I have a touchdown drawn up for you,’” Levine said earlier this season. ” And I believe that.

“Now, it’s a little bit of — I don’t know if Catch-22 is the right phrase — but in four years of me leaving the office saying ‘I just drew up a touchdown,’ I’ve only been right eight times. But on the flip side, those eight touchdowns are the second-most in the country in the last four years.”

Of those eight returns for scores, Carrier has seven of them — which has him tied with former Clemson running back C.J. Spiller for the most kickoff returns for touchdowns by an individual in NCAA history.

Those words, which came from Levine earlier this season the week after Carrier busted his seventh return for a touchdown, offered a small glimpse into what makes Levine tick. The 39-year-old, who was tabbed by athletic director Mack Rhoades as the Cougars’ interim head coach after the departure of Kevin Sumlin to Texas A&M, is deliberate when it comes to details.

Wander into his office and he can burn up the clock describing the nuances of his return teams or the keys that his coverage teams must pay attention to in order to ensure that they don’t give up a touchdown. It isn’t just 11 guys running down a field trying to tackle a guy and Levine will help you understand that in a hurry.

Even when it comes to the kickers and punters, Levine is a resource of information.

“Great coach, great guy, great friend,” punter Richie Leone said. “He’s so knowledgeable and he’s been around for awhile. He always adds his little observations when we’re watching film. ‘You’re overstriding here.’ No other coach would say something like that.”

A former receiver at Minnesota from 1991-95, Levine also works on the offensive side of the ball, coaching inside receivers. He has coached in the Southeastern Conference (as a graduate assistant at Auburn) the NFL (as an assistant special teams coach with the Carolina Panthers) and several places in between from the FCS (Texas State) to Louisville to Louisiana Tech.

Levine arrived in Houston to join Sumlin’s first staff at UH in 2008 and has been with the Cougars ever since. He spoke on Saturday about the fondness he and his family have grown for the city since moving here.

“We’ve been here four years, it’s the longest I’ve ever been at any one of my stops,” Levine said. “We love it here, we love the people here, we love this university, we love the community and when you’ve been somewhere four years you grow close not only to friends and neighbors and people in town, but naturally the players you coach.”

What lies ahead for Levine is probably one of the most unique challenges he has faced in his coaching career. He is in charge of guiding a team that has already set a school record for wins in a season (12) to a history-making 13th win in the TicketCity Bowl against Penn State on Jan. 2 at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. He must help keep a recruiting class intact after the departure of Sumlin, who put together the best winning percentage of any UH coach in history in his four years there. And he has to do it on short notice, since Sumlin accepted the A&M job on Saturday, meaning it’s a transition time for everyone.

But if there’s one thing that Levine always seems to be, it’s prepared. He wasted no time ensuring that the rest of the coaching staff was on the same page upon his appointment to interim head coach on Saturday. If his work with special teams is any indication, no detail will go overlooked.

“Tony is truly one of the best around and I believe in the best interests of our student-athletes and in preparing for the bowl game, he gives us that best opportunity,” Rhoades said.

•••

If you want to get a glimpse of UH’s interim head coach at work, your chance is this Saturday as the Cougars will open their football practice to the public.

UH will take the field at Tom Tellez/Carl Lewis track complex from 2 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is free for the public and there will be a 30-minute autograph session for fans following the practice. Fans are encouraged to bring items to be signed but asked to limit those to one per person.

Saturday’s practice will be the only open practice before the Cougars take the field on Jan. 2 for the TicketCity Bowl.

•••

In case you missed it, athletic director Mack Rhoades penned a letter to UH alumni and fans on the school’s official athletic Web site, UHCougars.com. Rhoades addressed several topics, but mainly the transition at the head football coach position in light of Kevin Sumlin’s departure and Tony Levine being named interim head coach.

]]>http://blog.chron.com/sportsupdate/2011/12/a-closer-look-at-levine/feed/552011-12 college bowl schedulehttp://blog.chron.com/sportsupdate/2011/12/2011-12-college-bowl-schedule/
http://blog.chron.com/sportsupdate/2011/12/2011-12-college-bowl-schedule/#commentsMon, 05 Dec 2011 00:22:37 +0000http://blog.chron.com/owls/?p=5066
See where your team is going with complete information for all 35 college football bowl games.]]>The 2011-12 college football bowl season begins Dec. 17 with the Gildan New Mexico Bowl and ends with the Jan. 9 Allstate BCS National Championship Game in New Orleans.